TOP 100 WINES OF 2014,
N° 6 / Top 100 : Domaine de Chevalier
TASTING NOTE
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Score 99 |
A white that is dense and structured with amazing honey and dried-fruit character. Mango, pineapple and papaya. Chalky undertones from the soil. Full and chewy with a beautiful depth of fruit and intensity. So much going on here. Phenomenal depth of fruit. Why drink grand cru Burgundy? Better in 2017. |
My colleague Nick Stock and I posted more than 10,000 tasting notes on JamesSuckling.com in the past year; with all the great wines among them, it was difficult to pick the best.
The Top 100 Wines of 2014 below are based primarily on ratings. I considered all wines that scored 96 points or more during the past 11 months, and that had at least 6,000 bottles in production. Finally, I ordered the wines according to what I thought were the most exciting: the ones with the wow factor.
I also considered as my Wine of the Year the glorious Château Guiraud 2011. This is clearly an amazing wine for the money, with bottles costing about US$70. And it shows all the depth, richness and structure one could possibly expect in a great sweet wine.
Then, of course, there was the pinot noir of Peter Michael Winery of California. Some people probably think that PM only makes great cabernets, but its pinots are equally compelling.
No. 6, Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, illustrates how great 2011 is for dry white Bordeaux, while No. 7, Aldo Conterno Barolo Romirasco, highlights the wonderful possibilities of the 2010 vintage for Barolo. The vintage made some harmonious nebbiolos that have excellent structure but remain balanced and refined, giving them drinkability.
And finally, at No. 10, Champagne Billecart-Salmon Extra Brut 2006 is one of the best 2006 champagnes yet released, with layers of character and bone-dry intensity.
Top 100 Wines of 2014 - Click for notes and scores.
1. Viña Cobos Malbec Perdriel Luján de Cuyo Cobos 2011
2. Penfolds Shiraz South Australia Grange Bin 95 2010
4. Château Guiraud Sauternes 2011
5. Peter Michael Winery Pinot Noir Fort Ross Seaview Sonoma County Le Caprice 2012
6. Domaine de Chevalier Blanc Pessac-Léognan 2011
7. Aldo Conterno Barolo Romirasco 2010
8. Felton Road Pinot Noir Central Otago Block 5 2010
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